I wonder if anyone has the complete count of all the times Eric Krasno’s been on the Brooklyn Bowl stage — even a ballpark number would probably be an underestimation. So closely linked is Kraz with the Bowl’s now seven-year history that having him headline its anniversary party is almost a foregone conclusion. And to be part of these packed festivities — decorations, balloon drop and all — was to celebrate not only the venue, but also a new chapter for Krasno: a groovy-as-hell new band that draws on many of the sounds and styles for which he’s celebrated and places them in a new context.

Krasno is a world-class guitarist and a respectable singer, and the Eric Krasno Band celebrates both with ample helpings of blues, soul, R&B, and jazz fusion. Overall, the sounds from his debut album, Blood from a Stone, aren’t far afield from Soulive, Lettuce or any of his many other associations, but they sound of a piece with one another. Krasno doesn’t need to reject what’s core to his more famous bands to carve out an identity here — the consistency of the music and the choice in co-conspirators do that superbly. And while it’s clear whose band it is, he’s just as happy to lean back into his ensemble, playing off guitar foil Danny Mayer, riding a hot, malleable pocket from bassist Alex Chakour and drummer Eric Kalb, harmonizing and doing some good-natured egging with singer Mary Corso, or turning whole sections of jam space over to DeShawn Alexander, who had an especially strong night.

I wonder if anyone has the complete count of all the times Eric Krasno’s been on the Brooklyn Bowl stage — even a ballpark number would probably be an underestimation. So closely linked is Kraz with the Bowl’s now seven-year history that having him headline its anniversary party is almost a foregone conclusion. And to be part of these packed festivities — decorations, balloon drop and all — was to celebrate not only the venue, but also a new chapter for Krasno: a groovy-as-hell new band that draws on many of the sounds and styles for which he’s celebrated and places them in a new context.

Krasno is a world-class guitarist and a respectable singer, and the Eric Krasno Band celebrates both with ample helpings of blues, soul, R&B, and jazz fusion. Overall, the sounds from his debut album, Blood from a Stone, aren’t far afield from Soulive, Lettuce or any of his many other associations, but they sound of a piece with one another. Krasno doesn’t need to reject what’s core to his more famous bands to carve out an identity here — the consistency of the music and the choice in co-conspirators do that superbly. And while it’s clear whose band it is, he’s just as happy to lean back into his ensemble, playing off guitar foil Danny Mayer, riding a hot, malleable pocket from bassist Alex Chakour and drummer Eric Kalb, harmonizing and doing some good-natured egging with singer Mary Corso, or turning whole sections of jam space over to DeShawn Alexander, who had an especially strong night.

The Blood material fleshed out most of the two-hour headlining set: world-weary soul in “Jezebel” and “Torture,” Allman Brothers–esque jazz-rock in “Curse Lifter” (which on the album, Krasno noted, features Derek Trucks), roiling R&B and steamy soul in “On the Rise.” You could hear many of Krasno’s influences as well as some of the more recent sonic palettes he’s been painting with, from Hendrix to George Benson, Led Zeppelin to the Grateful Dead. And there was marvelous interplay with some inevitable special guests: old pal Nigel Hall on “Unconditional Love,” always-welcome phenom Brandon “Taz” Niederauer up for Hendrix’s “Manic Depression,” and Marcus King — who’d played a furiously soulful set with his own band to open the night — laying waste to “Sweet Little Angel” and an exchange of guitar conversation that both sparked and smoldered. Hot night in the city and hotter night inside the Bowl, the way a summer party should be. —Chad Berndtson | @Cberndtson